Collierville leaders may revise sign ordinance

A handful signs from the recent election remain on Civic Center Drive in Collierville. Collierville leaders may look into revising its sign ordinance due to some complaints from citizens about the high number of political signs in the town before the election.

The Commercial Appeal

While driving through Collierville, Alderman Maureen Fraser couldn't help but notice the thousands of political signs that seemingly covered nearly every street corner or residential yard.

Fraser said the political signs became an unsightly mess, creating a sea of multicolor campaign signs that asked citizens to vote for their favorite candidate.

Because of complaints from citizens and some town officials, Collierville town planner Jamie Groce said leaders may soon look at revising its sign ordinance once again. The town's sign ordinance was last revised in 2010.

Talks of amending the ordinance may not come until early next year.

After the 2010 election, town leaders attempted to tighten up its sign ordinance. One of the most notable changes was setting a maximum size limit of signs, however, candidates were able to place as many temporary ground signs around Collierville as they like.

"By having unlimited small signs, the visual clutter that was produced was concerning to a lot of citizens, and we'll look at what's been working well with the sign codes," Groce said.

While some may want to beef up sign restrictions, Groce said the town leaders must be wary to not encroach on political speech rights. Other issues town officials may face, Groce added, are ease of enforcement and creating an aesthetically pleasing ordinance.

"All three are important to Collierville citizens," Groce said. "It's a balancing act, and we're asking the community what is important and acceptable and what they can live with."

Although the town hasn't set a mandate of when all political signs must be picked up, several school board and aldermen candidates have begun cleaning up the clutter.

Newly elected school board member Carr Kelsey said he had approximately 1,000 political signs scattered around town, but added that nearly all of his political signs have been picked up from polling locations, residential yards and businesses as of Thursday. New Position 3 alderman John Worley said almost all of his signs would be collected by Thursday, as well.

Restricting where candidates can place their signs, Fraser suggested, may be one way to resolve the problem.

"My hope is that we can modify it residential only so you don't have as much clutter," Fraser said.